Hot Cocoa for the Soul

Adrienne and I spent our Sunday morning booking accommodation for our trip to Mexico this upcoming Spring. Our accommodation ended up costing us less than $100 per person for a full week and we're just so stoked to stuff our faces with delicious street food and explore the colorful streets of San Miguel de Allende. To celebrate a productive morning, we walked to Cacao 70 factory for some delicious hot chocolate! We had the black sesame hot chocolate and it was really interesting. The taste reminded me of those black sesame soups you can get in Chinatown but with the texture of thin hot chocolate. I'm usually a big fan of black sesame but chocolate always trumps my heart so I preferred my traditional dark hot chocolate. I love the Cacao70 factory because it's such a cool space and they have the cutest products on display. Adrienne and I couldn't stop gushing over the adorable packaging!  

When It's Cold Out

"Ahhh it feels so good..." I think to myself as I sip from my cup of hot french vanilla. It's Monday morning and I'm sitting in a cute cafe, just relaxing. The winters are so brutal here that I've made a ritual of taking a day off during the winter months to refresh my spirit. Ginkgo cafe is the perfect place to escape the cold because it feels as if you've stepped out of the arctic and into a lush greenhouse. I was looking forward to order their delicious chocolate brioche but they didn't have it this time :( It's all good because the almond croissant was just as appetizing.  The warmth of the sunshine combined with a comfortable cup of coffee make for a great start of another work week!  

Belated 26th Birthday

It's been a while since I've thrown a few random photos together and called it a blog post. Today seems like a fine day to do so since I'm celebrating my birthday belatedly on the blog and in real life. My birthday was last Wednesday but I didn't have time to celebrate because I had a wedding gig the weekend before and the weekend after my birthday. I wanted to take a break from all the editing so Frog and I hopped over to Agrikol to enjoy their patio. They have a special BBQ menu for the patio which is a little bit pricier than their indoor menu but the experience is well worth it. I just love the relaxed backyard vibe with the bright yellow picnic tables and pretty white patio sets. I jokingly told Frog that my dream wedding would be a backyard wedding with sparkling lights dangling from trees and a very warm and homey feeling. We ought to reserve Agrikol right now for our reception. He wasn't too keen on the idea :-/ Anyhow, I'm actually happy to be turning a year older. It means that more experiences, life lessons and beautiful memories awaits and that I'm getting closer to the person I aspire to be. I'm finally starting to achieve a balance between work, personal life and my creative aspirations. I know things will only get better so I'm excited to see what 26 has in store for me! Let's give 26 a BIG WELCOME HUG! 

L'Amour du Pain

Frog and I spend most evenings strolling in our neighbourhood and we often stumble on cafes/bakeries in mid-construction and make a mental note to visit when they open. I've been waiting for L'Amour du Pain to open ever since I spotted their stylish rose-gold stools and googled images of their chocolate croissants. So on a sunny Monday morning, we decided to grab breakfast there. My mind was set on a chocolate croissant and Frog got an olive bread shaped as a leaf. The croissant was flaky and not overly oily (which I like) and there were small bits of chocolate inside. I wished that I asked to pop my croissant in the microwave for a few seconds because nothing is better than some melted chocolate :Q Nevertheless, I still enjoyed my croissant, it had just the right amount of crisp and chew. They had a huge selection of breads, baguettes, pastries, tarts and sandwiches and their shelves displayed artisanal coffee, soda and jam products. We really enjoyed the atmosphere of the bakery: it fits so well with Griffintown. Next time I want to try a slice of their cakes: they're almost too pretty to eat!

A Chocolate-y World

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a complete chocoholic! If there's a stash of chocolate somewhere, I'll eat it. If you have a stash of chocolate somewhere, I'll eat it too. So when Adri told me about the Cacao 70 Factory that opened near our neighborhoods, I couldn't wait to pay a visit! Heading the factory are the previous owners of Le Petit Trianon, a cosy little coffee shop in Westmount that closed a year ago. They had to close their cafe because the owners were offered this golden opportunity that required all their time and attention. But it was a worthy sacrifice because this place is a sensory experience of its own! The Cacao 70 Factory is different from their retail eateries because it functions as a testing ground for new recipes. They have a limited menu of drinks and mostly manufacture their adorably packaged chocolate bars. Because it was a sweltering hot day, Adri and I each got a frappucino: salted caramel for me and mochacino for Adri. I love the industrial interior mixed with the millenium pink metal accents. They have giant windows and  ample seating room for big groups and small groups to enjoy a chocolatey experience. I'm so excited that it's only a 10-minute walk from my apartment! You know where to find me!